I work as a clerical assistant in a pediatric dental office, and I am commonly surprised by the number of children who are scared of the dentist. Many kids think that cleanings will be painful, and they believe they will be scolded for eating sugary foods. Children are also extremely frightful of the noises made by the water spraying tools and the suction devices. As adults, we know that dental cleanings are easy and free of pain. We need to impart this knowledge to our children so they know not to fear the dentist. I have provided blogs that will help you speak with your child about dental care. Good communication, trips to your own dentist, and online videos can assist you. So will good brushing techniques that will make your child proud to see the dentist. Enjoy my articles so you can help your child build oral care confidence.

Teaching Your Children About the Dentist

3 Ways A Dental Implant Can Protect Your Oral Health

As a dental implant replaces a lost tooth, it also helps to protect your oral health. Here are a few ways that the installation of a dental implant can help protect the health of your teeth and gums:

Spacing

Not only does the dental implant fill in the large gap left by a missing tooth. It also helps prevent irregular dental spacing that could make it difficult to clean your teeth properly. Before the placement of a dental implant, your teeth have more room to migrate out of their normal position.

Although irregular spacing may not occur immediately after a tooth is lost, over time the teeth can move. This gradual migration can result in a misalignment that requires correction.

Braces and other orthodontic appliances can help move the teeth into their correct alignment. However, the placement of a dental implant is a preventive measure that can keep the misalignment from occurring in the first place.

No Damage to Adjacent Teeth

When a dental implant is installed, it does not affect the teeth that are adjacent to the implantation site. Other tooth replacement options, such as dental bridges, require the altering of adjacent teeth.

In order to attach a fixed bridge in the mouth, the bridge crowns must be placed over the teeth that border the gap. Before the bridge crowns can be attached, some of the tooth material from the underlying teeth must be shaved away.

For a dental implant to be installed, no changes are necessary to adjacent teeth. Instead all the changes take place at implantation site. The implant is drilled into the jawbone. After the wound has healed properly, the implant is topped by an abutment and a dental crown, but no attachment to adjacent teeth is required.

Less Bone Loss

Since a dental implant is in the jawbone, when bite pressure is applied to the implant, it is transferred to the bone. This pressure provides stimulation to the bone. As a result, the jawbone produces more bone cells in response to the stimulation, which helps prevent the atrophy of the bone that can result in tooth loss and an aged appearance.

Proper jawbone density is required for the teeth to remain firmly in their sockets. As bone loss occurs, sockets can widen, and teeth can become loose. The stimulation to the bone offered by the placement of a dental implant can help ensure that the jawbone remains dense enough to support the teeth adequately.

To learn more ways that a dental implant can help protect your oral health, schedule a consultation with a family dentist in your area.